Lauren Kieffer’s eventing career has come full circle this weekend as she pilots Ms. Jacqueline Mars’ Vermiculus around his first CCI4* at Rolex Kentucky. Vermiculus, a 10-year-old Anglo-Arabian (Serazim X Wake Me Gently), was purchased by Lauren as a 3-year-old because he is the full brother of her first CCI4* horse, Snooze Alarm. (Read more: “The One That Started It All: Snooze Alarm.”

Both Anglo Arab geldings, Vermiculus and Snooze Alarm share both the Thoroughbred athleticism and the Arab stamina that makes for excellent eventing horses.

Lauren said that the two are very different rides, even though they share blood. With that in mind, here is a look at Vermiculus’ Rolex 2017 test …

… in comparison to Snooze Alarm at Rolex in 2010:

See any resemblance?

“It’s special to have his connection (to Snooze),” Lauren said yesterday. “He’s greener and known for being cheeky in the dressage. This year he’s grown up a little, but I didn’t expect him to be quite so good in there. You can’t match the atmosphere with a green horse, so you just don’t know exactly what will happen.”

Lauren and Vermiculus are off to a super start, having scored a 43.8 in dressage that was good for second place heading into Friday’s competition. We look forward to watching Vermiculus follow in his big brother’s hoof steps on Saturday — Snooze Alarm jumped around clear with time here in 2010.

Lauren Kieffer couldn’t be more thrilled with Vermiculus! Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.